A Hopeful Skeptic

When I was a teenager, I often heard my father saying: Yatha drusti tatha srusti. The world is as we see it. If I see the world with a closed mind it may look dark. If I see the world with an open mind it may look bright. Darkness keeps me ignorant about the world, people and nature. When my eyes are open and clear I see the world, people and nature clearly with no clouds of misperception. As a person grown up in a culture different from the prevailing culture I felt alienated and estranged. I came across both kinds of people: people with an open mind and open heart and also people with a closed and prejudiced mind. Living this way with an open mind and an open heart has enriched my life and also the life of others different from me. Keeping my mind open and taking off the ' dirty glasses' of cynicism and witnessing the good in others has helped me widened, deepened and enriched my life. When I came to this country from India, I came alone. I could not afford to bring my folks to this country. I stayed alone for a year. I felt lonely and sad for not having my folks with me. The house owner was an old Jewish lady. Seeing me sad and alone she spent a good quality time with me. I distinctly remember Mrs. Lindon preparing vegetarian meals for me. Mrs. Lyndon is related to me like my mother. After a year when my family came to Chicago, Mrs. Lindon adopted my family as her family. This is the power of unconditional love and positive regard. We will never forget Mrs. Lindon. She lives in our heart. Namaste. Jagdish P Dave

What a beautiful story of your landlady/owner taking you under her wing as family then adopting your family. Thank you for sharing!